Rear wheel drive (also referred to as RWD) has many benefits for your car. The rear wheels have the duty of moving the car. This means that the engine is turning the pistons to allow the back wheels to push the car forwards or backwards. The front wheels are purely for steering the vehicle in this case.

RWD allows for complete balance throughout the car. The engine is in the front whilst all the other drive components and mechanisms are in the back. This allows the driver to have the ability to handle the car better.

You also have better acceleration with this type of car. The weight is concentrated in one area which means that the car won’t spin. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles often spin when pulling away because of the traction they lose. This is why clutch control is essential when driving.

Torque controlled steering doesn’t occur with a RWD car. When FWD cars steer normally the engine affects the steering wheel. This could become dangerous and doesn’t allow you to handle the car as well as you should.

RWD cars are easier and cheaper to maintain. This makes the system convenient and practical for the everyday driver. Furthermore due to the improved balance throughout the car it brakes better with an even distribution of weight.

Of course, front wheel drive cars have advantages too.

If you reside in a cold or wet area where rain and snow are common then a FWD car is what you will need to conquer the slippery roads. With the weight being in the front it allows the car to drive better. In addition, because it has more traction you can drive easier in such conditions. There are no drive shafts or drive components under the car that lead to the rear. This means that your passengers will have more space and you will have more trunk space. RWD cars have added suspension which eliminates trunk space.

Whether you choose RWD or FWD it is best to do your research. Whichever one you decide on will also play a role on your tyres. Check with a wheel supplier which tyres will suit your requirements because RWD will wear the back tyres quicker and FWD will wear the front tyres quicker. Getting a car that suits you is important. You need to know how to handle the car without damaging any of the components.

Whether you’re a first-time car buyer or a seasoned veteran there’s always the tough decision of deciding if you should go with a new or pre-owned vehicle for your next purchase. New cars have the latest style, tech features, low interest rates, and that much-loved new car smell but are they really the best choice for you and your budget? We’re going to overview some used car wisdom and give you 4 great reasons to go pre-owned on your next car.

1. They’re Less Expensive

Let’s get the obvious out of the way – in most cases you’re going to save money to buy your car used and probably quite a bit of money at that. Once you buy a brand-new car and take it around the block it’s no longer new and that value drops quickly. According to Consumer Reports your car new car on average will be worth 54% of the original purchase after just 3 years – that hurts!

The average cost of a used car is predictably well below that of a new car model and that’s not the only space for savings. Logically you’ll pay less taxes on a lower priced car and it’s often more affordable to insure them as well. However, you should take note of the vehicle’s mileage because the distance driven and the remaining warranty will likely impact your maintenance expenses.

2. Financing Rates & Terms

With low manufacturer financing rates and longer terms available dealers are able to show you some very attractive monthly payments on a new car but don’t forget to do the math. Even a lower rate can really add up over a 7 or 8 year financing term and the growth of certified pre-owned ( CPO ) programs has really narrowed the gap. Not only do banks offer aggressively low used car rates but certified used cars offer even lower rates still plus the added bonus of additional warranty coverage and extensive vehicle inspections. The new car advantage is really starting to fade with exceptional used car financing options available.

3. Vehicle History Reports

Maybe your hesitation about buying a used car is that you just don’t know where it’s been or what you’re getting and that’s understandable, but with transparent reporting using tools like CarProof you get a very good idea of what you’re dealing with. Vehicle history reports might not catch everything but you’ll usually get some essential information like

If you’re thinking it might be a risk to buy a used car because it won’t last long then you should do some research. According to several studies the average vehicle on the road today is over 10 years old and that numbers continues to rise as car manufacturers continue to improve their line-ups. Modern cars, trucks, and SUVs simply have a longer life-span than they used to and that’s great news if you’re in the market for a pre-owned vehicle.

When it comes to choosing a towing company, for whatever reason it is that you require wrecker services, it is important to first review a list of model qualifications to separate the reliable companies from the “here today gone tomorrow” towing companies. If you want to make sure the wrecker company of your choice is a reliable one, then it is best to begin by learning the ten signs that measure a company’s level of professionalism and dependability. These signs can help you to better gauge whether or not a wrecker company is right for your towing needs. Continue reading to learn these ten signs, and be prepared for the next time you need a tow.

Customer Reviews

One of the best places to start is by looking for past and current customer reviews. If a company has nothing but terrible reviews from actual customers, there probably isn’t a reason to continue gauging their credentials. Customer reviews are powerful, and can best identify a company’s business ethics and workmanship. But keep in mind that sometimes, customer reviews are very one-sided. If there are only a few poor reviews, do not let this thwart you from learning more about the company, or using their services.

Full Fee Disclosure

It is important that a towing service is willing and open to disclosing all towing prices and fees before providing their services. This shows that you can trust them and that they are honest. It also ensures that you will not be billed extra charges after receiving their services.

Licenses and Insurance

Always make sure a towing company retains all the proper licensing and insurance needed to be in compliance with your state’s regulations. This is for liability purposes in the case of an accident or damage to the tow truck. This also indicates they are a professional and lawfully-operating business.

Employee Drug Testing

If a towing company employs drivers that are drug-free, you can rest assure that they are qualified, responsible, and capable of providing safe towing services.

Employee Background Checks

It is also important for a towing company to perform state and federal background checks on all drivers before employing them. This ensures that their tow truck operators are reliable and upstanding citizens.

Employee Driving Record Checks

A towing service should be serious about employing drivers with valid drivers’ licenses and good driving records. This is a sign of professionalism and increases customer confidence.

Certifications for Drivers

Certified tow truck drivers indicates a company’s professionalism and driver’s qualifications. Examples of such certifications include Wreck Master, Towing and Recovery Association of America, and State certifications.

Vehicle Security

A towing company should have an effective 24 hour monitoring system for all towed vehicles. Proficient vehicle security thwarts theft and vandalism. You can rest assure your car or truck will still be there when it’s time to pick it up.

Diverse Fleet and Sufficient Equipment

You want to make sure a towing company has a diverse selection of tow trucks, recovery vehicles, and other specialized towing equipment. Not only does this indicate a higher level of professionalism, it ensures they are fully-equipped to handle any towing need or situation.

GPS Systems

If an Indianapolis towing company does not have modern navigational systems in their tow trucks, they are probably a small time company or a fly-by-the-night towing service. A small company is not a bad thing, especially for quick or light-duty towing needs, but if you have an expensive vehicle or a towing need that is complex and difficult, you might want a company with modernized practices, like GPS systems. This also ensures a faster respond time, meaning less waiting times.

As we progress through life we go through different types of cars. It starts out with a fun sporty car for your younger years until, eventually, you require a family car for your whole family. These are the best family cars for the modern family who still wants to be trendy.

Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is a large car that has sufficient space for a family. Not only is it large but it also isn’t difficult to drive because of its practical size. It has been engineered to be regular sized on the outside but spacious on the inside.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is the typical SUV that works for any family. Road trips and travels become easy with this fantastic design. The Honda CR-V is compact, easy to drive and manoeuvre yet it has lots of space for your family.

Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is one of the latest SUV models that Subaru has released recently. The car is a cross between a wagon and an SUV. With extra space in the back your family will be comfortable. The rear seats are designed to support child seats too so that your little infant will experience comfort as well.

Toyota Highlander

Some families prefer to go on adventures in the mountains or camping by the rivers. It is important to have an off-road car that has sufficient space for your children in the back. The Toyota Highlander has been manufactured to have enough trunk space for luggage as well as leg room in the back seats.

Safety is an important factor when traveling with your children. Children might not understand the concept of safety and that’s why it is important to have a safe traveling car that does not have faults. You should also make sure that you teach your children that wearing seatbelts are important when traveling to any destination.

Before considering any car you should always test drive it to make sure that you can handle its power. Checking the reputation of the vehicle manufacturer is also necessary when considering it for you and your family’s travels and adventures.

It is also important that you always check the mechanisms of the car before you travel to any far destination. Make sure that you check that all the lights are working and that the brakes are functioning regularly without stickiness or pulsations. Also ensure that the wheel supplier has properly fitted, aligned and balanced the wheels on the car.

A1 Wheel and Tyre is a private family owned and operated company specialising in the warehouse and distribution of wheels and tyres to the automotive fitment trade. The company has a well established operation in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Shopping for a car is a responsible process, which is often associated with lots of challenges. With so many nuances that have to be taken into account, it’s not easy to choose a vehicle, the quality and characteristics of which will come up to your needs and expectations. Many people believe that buying a used car is a bad choice. So, they start looking for a new car, which is always a more expensive solution. If you face the same dilemma, consider the major reasons to buy a second-hand auto.

1. Affordability

Affordability is, probably, the major reason to get a used automobile. Whether you buy a 2-year old vehicle or the one, which is over 10 years old, it will still cost less as compared to a new car. This is no wonder, because autos depreciate with the lapse of time and even those cars, which initially were quite expensive, may cost several times less.

2. Certified Pre-Owned Options

When you buy a used auto, you are always worried about its condition and possible shortcomings you don’t know about. This is quite risky, of course, and this is what often makes customers give preference to new vehicles, even if they are much more expensive. Fortunately, contemporary carmakers start offering versatile Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) options, which make used cars a nice money investment. These programs as well as their terms may differ a lot from each other, which basically depends upon the manufacturer. In most cases, CPO programs imply special warranty terms and some other options depending upon your current needs. This is a pretty nice solution for used car owners.

3. Extensive Choice

Hundreds of new car models emerge in the market each year. This number keeps increasing with every passing day, offering freedom of choice to customers all over the world. However, new cars cost a lot and you have to be sure about your financial abilities, if you decide to opt for the one. When it comes to selection of used automobiles, the variety of models available for sale is much more impressive. This means that your choice is more extensive. This is just the matter of your taste, requirements and budget. You can choose any car models you like – even those, which are not manufactured anymore.

4. Lower Insurance Rates

When it comes to insurance, new cars are undoubtedly more costly. This is because the value of an auto is that aspect, which is primarily considered in the process of insurance rate determination. In other words, the more valuable a vehicle is – the more expensive the insurance policy will be. This is quite understandable, because repairing a valuable car will cost more as compared to a used auto. Thus, when you buy a second-hand car, you will pay less for the insurance policy.

5. Powerful Aftermarket Communities

When you buy a new auto, you will have to look for the aftermarket community to help you solve your problems for quite a long period of time. This won’t happen, if you opt for a used automobile. The older a car is – the more extensive and powerful aftermarket community it has. This is a notable support for any car owner, because there are many questions and answers you can discuss with the owners of similar car models.

6. Lower Registration Expenses

The cost of car registration generally depends upon the location you live in. It may differ even from one state to another, not to mention different countries at all. However, registering a used auto is much cheaper than a new car in any country. This often depends upon the age, power and even weight of a car as well as on other important characteristics. What’s more, some countries charge annual taxes for cars depending upon their age.

Now that you are aware of the major reasons to buy a used car, it is up to your to make your choice. There are different online and offline options you can go for, when looking for a vehicle. Make sure you choose a trusted service to deal with to avoid unexpected situations. Whether you are going to get used tippers trucks, trailers or any other vehicles, it makes sense to shop around prior to making a choice you will be satisfied with.

Over the years automotive recycling has developed into a big industry. This is because technological developments have given rise to processes which have made it possible to recycle most parts of a car. These days every part such as plastics, glass, different parts, fluids used in a car is recycled.

Most of the fluids used in cars need proper disposal. This is because if they leak into the environment, they can cause serious damage. The reason is that they contain toxic chemicals.

Let us see various fluids that are used in a car and their impact on the environment:

Engine Oil:

Internal combustion engines of automobiles need frequent changes of oil and oil filter. If we consider the number of cars on road, you can imagine the quantity of waste engine oil that is generated. But fortunately, engine oil can be recycled. You can remove used oil from your car and give it away to a recycling center. You can replace used oil with fresh oil.

Antifreeze:

Antifreeze should not be allowed to escape into the environment. This is because it is toxic and it could mix with underground water. The antifreeze water is sweet to taste and can be consumed by children and animals. This is hazardous for health. The good news is that there are processes to recycle antifreeze.

Anti-transmission fluid (ATF):

If this fluid is released into the environment, it causes severe damage. It seeps into the soil contaminating it. Animals and insects consume it and die. This affects the food cycle and negatively impacts the ecosystem. These pollutants make their way into the water supply also. This adversely affects the life of aquatic creatures. Recyclers collect used ATF so that it does not get leaked into the environment.

Brake Fluid:

Brake fluid contains glycols, solvents, and heavy metals. It is also flammable. Hence, it should be carefully disposed of.

Windshield washer fluid:

This fluid is toxic in nature since it contains methanol, detergent, and water. It should not be mixed with other automotive fluids.

Fluids can easily leak into the environment causing irreparable damage. Hence, we should all make a conscious effort to ensure that this leakage is avoided. Since there are recycling centers to recycle most of these toxic fluids, we should do our bit for disposing of them.

We can collect used fluids in containers and give them away at recycling centers. However, we need to ensure that we collect the different fluids separately. Safe disposal of automotive fluids is a great service to mankind.